Remote-control steering attachment for outboard motors



y 1952 w. L. HOLZHAUSER 2,598,383 REMOTE-CONTROL STEERING ATTACHMENT FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Feb. 13, 1948 JNVENTOR. WERNER L. HOLZHAUSER ATTORNEY May 27, 1 w. L. HOLZHAUSER REMOTE-CONTROL STEERING ATTACHMENT FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Feb. 13, 1948 INVENTOR. WERNER L. HOLZHAUSEI? A 7TORA/EY Patented May 27, 1952 REMOTE-CONTROL STEERING ATTACH- MENT FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Werner L. Holzhauser, Ukiah, Calif. Application February 13, 1948, Serial No. 8,255

My invention relates to a steering attachment for outboard motors, and more particularly to a remote control attachment which is readily and quickly attachable or detachable, and which is also portable.

Practically all modern outboard motors are provided with a supporting structure connected to a bracket adapted to be detachably connected to the stern of a boat. A part of the housing structure of the motor, usually the propeller drive shaft housing, is journalled for rotation in such supporting structure, about an upright axis to enable angular adjustment of the propeller for effecting steering of the boat. A tiller or handle is connected to such steerable member of the motor to effect the steering; this necessitates that the operator be positioned in the stern of the boat adjacent the motor, and that he substantially continually hold the steering handle.

Such restrictions are inconvenient, particularly in the case of an operator who may be fishing, and hence may desire to control the boat from some other location than the stem, or who is frequently called upon to employ both hands in his sport but cannot release the steering handle without the boat changing its course. Inasmuch as a popular feature of outboard motors are their relative economy, it is commercially impractical to supply them with expensive remote control steering equipment, and hence employed without such equipment.

My invention has as its objects, among others,

the provision of a simple and, inexpensive improved steering attachment for outboard motors, which can be remotely controlled, which, after a few simple parts are initially and permanently installed on the motor, is readily assembled and detachable without requiring special tools; can be steered from any desired position in the boat, which position can be quickly and easily changed at the will of the operator; is self-locking so that the operator may employ both hands should he be fishing or for any other purpose; is light in weight and composed of a few simple parts; and which is readily portable or transportable. Other objects of my invention will become apparent from a perusal of the following description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the rear portion of a boat having an outboard motor attached to its stern, and illustrating my steering attachment for such motor.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevation of a detach-I able pedestal or support for the steering control member of my attachment.

they are usually 'lClaims. (01. 74-507) Fig. 3 is an elevational view looking in the direction of arrow 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken in a plane indicated by line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional elevation of a portion of the outboard motor supporting frame and housing structure, illustrating the mode of connection of my steering attachment to the motor.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken in a plane indicated by line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but illustrating my steering attachment disconnected from the motor, to illustrate more clearly the construction.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken in a plane in drive shaft housing 2, propeller shaft housing 3,'

and engine 4. Drive shaft housing 2 provides a steerable member of the motor and is journalled in journal 6 for rotation about a normally upright axis, the journal forming part of a structurally integral bracket support member I for the motor, having an extension 8 provided with pivotal connecting means 9 connected for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis to bracket H clamped to the stern of the boat l2.

Such pivotal mounting of the motor on bracket l l enables the motor to be swung upwardly, as indicated by the broken line position in Fig. 1, so

that the propeller may be moved out of the watershould the going be shallow. For regulation of the depth of the propeller in the water, the motor may be clamped in various adjusted positions, to arcuate clamping arm [3 secured to bracket II.

A pivotally mounted steering control handle or my steering attachment. Such attachment comprises a bearing bracket 2| having spaced bearings 22 in which is journalled the flexible driving member 23 of a conventional flexible drive shaft 24 having flexible sleeve 26 one end of which is fixedly attached to one of bearings 22. Fixedly secured to driving member 23 between bearings 22 is a driving gear element, preferably a worm 21' adapted to engage or mesh with a driven gear element in the; form. of worm wheel. 28 fixedly secured to"theturnable housing frame member 2, so that upon turning of the flexible driving member 23, the propeller may be angularly ad-- justed to steer the boat.

Although it is preferred to employ a'wormand worm wheel connection for steeringthe motor, because this provides a self-locking connection not requiring the operator to holdthe steeringcontrol continuously, any other type of pinion and gear connection may be employed, such as bevel or spur gearing. An efiicient gear ratio shouldfbe employed,'dependingion the-motor horse power. For a H. P. motor; which-iszquite pop ular; a 25rto:l; ratio is suitable;-

Worm Wheel 28ymay;beinitially installed-at thetfactoryor; it may-be installed; at the time of: adoption-of: my attachment. with": the; motor; To facilitate attachment. of" the worm: wheel 28;. if; not originallyr supplied: with the: motor; .itis.- preferably in the form of a split gear clamped torturnable frameimember-21 byrtherusual screws 29; a notch or keyway SI beingfrmedin member2:to1-engage .a .lug, 0r"key"32 on:the"gear; so that the-gear;willberfixedrfor-turning cm-ovement with-:memben 2:

Means,-,whic-h'-may be; initially installed "at the factory but which if not; can be easily'installed' when the-:attachment iiszfirst assembled; is, provided as armountingiorfibearing bracket 2! 1 Suchmeanszcomprises bracket shelf 33 fixedlysecured atxthe; proper positiomtc the fixed journalt; by anyrsuitable means rsuch:;as welding. Any suitablemeansmay beemployed-to provideior quick detachable :connection" of the bearing'member 2 I r torshelfi'33-z For-this,.purpose; I preferably'providezopenings ini thez'iorm of slots-34- i1r shelf 33 extending inwardly-from adjacent: edges of thesshelfso that they, are at substantially aright' angle-withrespect to-eachother: into whichacarr be inserted"attaching;;screws -3 s onrthe underside ofzbearing member: 2 I; 7 thus. enabling-.- the: bear- 59 ing: member;- carrying'worm 2.1, to: be fixedly clamped in positionaby-wing nuts? I It-is pref erred 'to' have :the; slots 34winithej position :described; because :shouldi oneidesireriori any" reason to disconnecttworm 2lzirom wormnwheel 2 8 without removingtlie entirebracket assembly, for: example; in'instanceszwhere one may desire toruse handle l i-ejfonsteering; such disconnection can; be;- readily: accomplished; by' loosening the winggnuti. adjacent the left hand: slot: 331 withi reference to --Fig-; .7 and: pivoting-the;bracketias: semblygon the right handi screw, socthat it: can be. moved out of Y the way, asindicatedw by; the: broken line position inliig. 5.

It: is: tobe understood: that :after-rworm wheel- 2 tiandibracket shelf-3 3 :arejirst ztattached; which; as previously explained; may: be: either? at. the: .factoryfor when my steeringattachment isafirst'. assembled, they'remain as permanent fixtures on. theymotor. Consequently; since :no; specialitools are required to mountbearingmember 2i onbracket 33-so that worm2l 'can-be-engaged with worm ,wheel-;28; the described 'detacha-blermountingscanqbeequickly. assembledwr';detachedat all.

see

A simple, and also quickly attachable and detachable control means is provided for effectin the steering. For this purpose, the end of flexible driving member 23 opposite the end secured to worm 21, is journalled in a bearing 4| in which sleeve 26 of the flexible drive shaft is secured. Driving member 23 extends through bearing 4!, and to its projecting end is fixedly secured a steering. control handle or crank 42. which may be of" a suitable-length" to provide the" desired leverage. The control member 42 may be in the form of a wheel if so desired, but the handle is preferred because it is less bulky. Thus, by turning, control member 42 in either one of opposite directions, the motor can be turned to steer the boat, through the self-locking worm gear drive.

Support. means. is provided for the steering control, which can also be quickly attached to the boat at any desired location, such as a seat, the bottom or the side of the boat, and disconnected therefrom when :thesteering; attachment is to be removed; Suchsupport meanszcomprises ta -pedestal 43 having a basefifl to-which -is-=securedt a hardened WO0d.SCI'eW% i6, enablinggthezbaseito: be screwed to the boat, for exampleybottomf-l asillustrated; base adv-being broad enough taprovide-for stability when the pedestal iSxSO attached: For dig-htness; pedestal 743 is; perferably :formed. of spaceduprightlegsfwi secured to base-44 by any: suitablermeans suchas welding; and the-legs {mereminate at their upper end in: a 'U-shaped-socket; 49? adapted to receive-bearing '4 l r of: the-steering? control. The intermediate side-of-suclr-,socket:is: formed-with an opening or slottiil open'atithe top; so thata-an attaching screw-52 ,secured-1130:: bearing- 41 -can be-quickly inserted sin-slot 51 :andthe bearing-quickly:- clamped insocket-A9 by wing nut 53-;

As is indicated inz-Fig, 1 of the drawings; flexible 1 drive shaft 24 is imade-sufficientlyr long-1'. so". that pedestal 43-can be mounted at any 'POSitiOIlOIITthEI: boatand still= support theesteeringicontrol 42c Hence; thG'OIJGI'atOI OfIthG motor is not limitedrto one location-inisteering the-motor. In this-com nection; the flexible' character of the drive-:shait',. enables the shaft to be detouredaroundianyrob'r' structions thatsmay be-vin-theboat andto be:- moved under the boat seats; Also; this-formofcable-readily permits the entiremotor to be -tilted incaseshallowwateris encountered; 0101317191'? wise, without requiring disconnectiom between: the gear elements 2]- and 28. Since the detachable;parts-- of my attachment consist: essentially 4 of onlythe flexible driving shaft 24 having the-x steering gear member 2 1at'oneendand the-steer. ingycontrol memberi42-at the otherend, togetherwithI the-,pedestalz or: support 43: for detachably; mounting control member 42,- theattachment can beamadevery light in weight; and ishencereadily: portable" ortransportable; besides being capable ofquick.- assembly 'or disassembly.

In .connectingmy attachment, all attachments: can be made'quick-ly without any special tools,.. merely; by securing-bearing bracket: 2lin position on the motor toengage gearing Tie-28;, screwing pedestal;43fto the:boatat-thez-desiredr place, and attaching bearing Gil to the pedestal: In operating the attachment, the: operatonnot only-isnot limitedrtoa one position -in-the boat;.-but

0. hefca-n'face forwardly or backwardly in 1tl1e2boat;.

and also stand up, with the boat under-steering: control at all times; This is. adecidedadvantage ingfishing. The-self-rlocking-steering connection t-ortheylflOiiOIfiBndbkS: use;of-.b.oth-hands; Whicleis: "another desirable featurershoulditheioperatorrbea trolling or casting for fish. Should the operator desire to use the control handle M for steering, without removing the attachment, this can be done whenever desired, merely by pivoting worm 21 out of engagement with worm wheel 28.

I claim:

1. A remote control steering mechanism for an outboard motor having a steerable member journalled in a support member, comprising a driven gear element secured to said steerable member, a bracket supported by said support member, a flexible driving shaft having a flexible driving member and a flexible sleeve about said driving member, a bearing secured to one end of the sleeve in which the driving member can turn, a driving gear element secured to said driving member, means for detachably securing said bearing to said bracket to move said driving gear element into and out of engagement with said driven gear element, another bearing secured to the opposite end of said sleeve and through which the opposite end of said driving member projects, a steering control member secured to said opposite end of the driving member, a movable support adapted to be detachably mounted on a boat at any desired position remote from the motor, and means for mounting the latter bearing on the lattersupport.

2. A remote control steering mechanism for an outboard motor having a steerable member journalled in a support member, comprising a driven gear element secured to said steerable member, a bracket supported by said support member, said bracket having openings therein, a flexible driving shaft having a flexible driving member and a flexible sleeve about said driving member, a bearing secured to one end of the sleeve in which the driving member can turn, a driving gear element secured to said driving member, said bearing having spaced screws adapted for insertion in the opening in said bracket to enable the bearing to be quickly detachably mounted on said bracket by nuts, to move said driving gear element into and out of engagement with said driven gear element, another bearing secured to the opposite end of said sleeve and through which the opposite end of said driving member projects, a steering control member secured to said opposite end of the driving member, a movable support adapted to be detachably mounted on a boat at any desired position remote from the motor, and means for mounting the latter bearing on the latter support.

3. A remote control steering mechanism for detachable connection to an outboard motor having a steerable member journalled in a support member, comprising a driven gear element fixedly secured to said steerable member, a bracket fixedly supported by said support member, a flexible shaft, a driving gear element at one end of the shaft, means for detachably supporting such end of the shaft on said bracket to move said driving gear element into and out of engagement with said driven gear element, a steering control member at the opposite end of the shaft, a movable support column having means for detachably securing the column to a boat at any desired position remote from said motor, and means for detachably securing said opposite end of the flexible shaft on said column. 4. In a remote control steering mechanism for detachable connection to an outboard motor having a steerable member carried by a, support member, a driven gear element secured to said steerable member, a bracket carried on said support member, a flexible driving shaft having a flexible driving member and a flexible sleeve about said driving member, a bearing secured to one end of the sleeve in which the driving member can turn, a driving gear element secured to said driving member, and means for detachably securing said bearing to said bracket to move said driving gear element into and out of engagement with said driven gear element.

5. In detachable steering mechanism for remote control of an outboard motor having a steerable member journalled in a support member, a driven gear element secured to said steerable member above said support member, a bracket supported by said support member below said driven gear element, a driving gear element adapted to engage said driven gear element, a bearing in which the driving gear element is journalled, and means for detachably securing said bearing member to said support member to move said gear elements in to and out of engagement comprising spaced fastening elements on said bearing member connected to spaced fastening stations on said bracket member.

6. The construction of claim 5 in which said bracket member comprises a shelf having adjacent edges transverse with respect to each other, one of said fastening stations being a 5 slot extending inwardly from one of said edges and the other of said fastening stations being a slot extending inwardly from the other of said edges, and said fastening elements comprising screws adapted to be secured by nuts whereby by loosening a nut on one of said screws, the gear elements can be disengaged upon pivoting the bearing member about the other screw.

7. The construction of claim 6 in which the driven gear element is a worm wheel and the driving gear element is a worm.

WERNER L. HOLZHAUSER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 650,224 Beyer May 22, 1900 1,131,862 Perkins Mar. 16, 1915 1,139,631 Blakeley May 18, 1915 1,403,318 Hansen Jan. 10, 1922 1,843,272 Evinrude Feb. 2, 1932 1,903,265 Peck Mar. 28, 1933 1,957,647 Horak May 8, 1934 2,155,112 Anderson Apr. 18, 1939 2,273,815 Bevington Feb. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 179,607 Great Britain May 3, 1922 401,820 Germany Sept. 9, 1924 536,515 Germany Oct. 26, 1931 542,947 Great Britain Feb. 3, 1942 

